African violet plant

ABSTRACT

An African violet known by the cultivar name Atlanta having light pink flower color, medium to dark green variegated leaves, with contrasting light green centers; upright and rigid stems; floriferous habit, with 7-12 flowers appearing on each stem, and uniform and compact growth habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Atlanta.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation B 349/1, and is a product of a plannedbreeding program. The basic objective of the breeding program was tocreate a new African violet cultivar having very light pink flowercolor, a rich, full bouquet, and medium dark green leaves having lightgreen centers. These are known in the industry as "girl-type" leaves.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program in Isselburg, West Germany. The female, or seed parentwas a cultivar designated XIX34, pink girl. The male, or pollen parentwas a cultivar designated XVII 148, a cultivar having apple blossomflower color.

The new cultivar Atlanta was discovered and selected by me as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Isselburg, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the newcultivar by leaf cuttings and by division of shoots, as performed by meat Isselburg, West Germany, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

Atlanta has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Isselburg, West Germany, under greenhouseconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Atlanta, which in combination distinguishthis African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Variegated leaves, slightly serrated at the edges, and funnel-shaped.

2. The centers of the leaves are light green, in contrast to the darkergreen color surrounding the center.

3. Short, upright and rigid stems, 7-9 in number.

4. Very uniform growth and compact habit.

5. Very light pink flower color, and non-dropping flowers.

6. Highly floriferous, producing a full bouquet, with 7-12 flowersappearing on short wire-like peduncles on each stem.

The new cultivar is similar in certain respects to Nashville, disclosedin my U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,533. Nashville similarly has "girl type"leaves. Atlanta is principally distinguished from Nashville by itsflower color and flower petal form, with Nashville having ruffled edges.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are as true aspossible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to theHorticultural Color Chart (HCC) issued by Wilson Colour Ltd., exceptwhere general colors of ordinary significance are referred to. Colorvalues were taken under natural light conditions approximately mid-dayin Isselburg, West Germany.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat. cv. Atlanta.

Parentage:

Male parent.--XIX 34 pink girl.

Female parent.--XVII 148 apple blossom.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant: From 6 cm. to 8 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately20-25 cm. in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves:

General form.--Round, wavy and funnel shaped.

Diameter.--Up to 60-70 mm.

Texture.--Soft, slightly hairy.

Aspect.--Firm, very shiny; younger leaves in center curly.

Veins.--Upperside barely visible; underside visible, light green.

Color (upperside).--Ivy green 0001060/1.

Color (underside).--Willow green 000862/2; light purple shade.

Petiole.--Color approximately sage green 000861/1.

Flowers:

Buds.--Bell-shaped; 6 mm. just before opening; 7-10 and more per stem.

Sepals.--Color: Greenish-brown. Calyx: Funnel-shaped. Aspect:Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Short, upright, wire-like, brownish,hairy.

Individual flowers:

Size.--Between 35-45 mm. in total diameter.

Color.--Upperside: Amaranth rose (3 larger petals) 530/3; 2 small petals530/2; crystal-like. Underside: Amaranth rose 530/3.

Borne.--Flower stem carries 7-12 and more flowers on short strongpeduncles; flowers occasionally display an additional small petal in thecenter of the flower.

Shape.--Normally conventional violet-shaped, but occasionally 3 largelower petals and 3 small upper petals.

Flowering time.--7-8 weeks after potting first flowers appear; 10-12weeks to full-flowering saleable plant.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: 2 anthers, composed of 4 cells, with seedcapsule pushed slightly through. Anthers: Color Dresden yellow 64.Filaments: 5-7 mm. long; pinkish. Styles: 6-7 mm., pink-white stigma;base of ovary light green and hairy. Pollen color: HCC Dresden yellow64/3.

Roots.--White when young and active; greenish brown where older;normally developed.

Disease resistance: Good, as experienced to date.

General observations: Atlanta is a compact growing variety withvariegated shiny, funnel-shaped leaves with light green centers. Thecontrast between the medium to dark green leaves and the light pinkflower head makes a very attractive plant.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet known by thecultivar name Atlanta, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized by its light pink flower color, medium to dark greenvariegated leaves, with contrasting light green centers; upright andrigid stems; floriferous habit, with 7-12 flowers appearing on eachstem, and by its uniform and compact growth habit.